EIA News

FEARS are rising in the Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam about food and social insecurity caused by hydropower dams and water-diversion projects planned or already started further upstream.

The delta has an extensive system of canals and green paddy fields that stretches for kilometres, creating a part of the world that seems blessed with abundance like a virtual Garden of Eden. Local people are down-to-earth, but troubled by the increasingly frequent and serious saltwater intrusion, which destroys their crops, while the riverbanks and seashore are eroding at an alarming rate.

The National Environment Board (NEB) has approved the first phase of the high-speed train project from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

The board has, however, warned over the possible environmental effects on Bueng Boraphet, a large freshwater swamp and lake in central Thailand, that the train is set to transverse. The board on Thursday approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for the high-speed train project.

But the board recommended monitoring and implementation measures to limit the impact on Bueng Boraphet in Nakhon Sawan province.

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry on Monday arranged a series of public hearings for the new bill, although activists say that the sessions are not enough to reflect the opinions of all affected people. They also warned that unless the law is well drafted, the problems of enforcing environmental law such as the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) would remain and even get worse. Supaporn Malailoi, the manager of Environmental Litigation and Advocacy for the Wants (EnLAW) Foundation, said the overall hearing process was not enough to ensure perfect legislation for the people.

An environmental advocacy group yesterday filed a petition with the Ministry of National Resources and Environment, demanding the agency include their proposals in a draft law designed to protect and preserve the environment.

The People's Network of Sustainable Development has long pressed the state to set up an independent body to conduct environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and environmental and health impact assessments (EHIAs) fairly and transparently.

The Central Administrative Court has suspended a construction licence given to a high-end residence project on Ratchadamri Road, saying the Office of the Privy Purse does not have authority to endorse the licence request.

Srisuwan Janya, president of the Stop Global Warming Association who filed a petition to the court, said the court ruled in favour of his request. He argued the licence for the Makadlekluang II Residence in Pathumwan district was obtained illegally.

THE NATIONAL Environment Board has resolved against the Highways Department’s proposal to expand roads in Phetchabun province’s Nam Nao National Park, saying the proposal should be reviewed and other feasible options considered.

Phetchabun national park road proposal put on hold

The board, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, considered the proposal in which the department aimed to expand the road cutting through 40 kilometres of the national park.

A few weeks ago, Thais gaped in awe at MahaNakhon, that new ultramodern high-rise on bustling Sathon.

Now our collective attention is being diverted to Wiman Phra-in, or Abode of Indra, a much-talked about architectural design intended as a landmark in the Chao Phraya riverside promenade project. The name suggests a feature with a pointed spiral structure that offers nothing less than paradise.

PINK and green flags flying outside homes in the peaceful Tambon Pak Bang fishing village in Songkhla’s Thepa district may be merely insignificant decorations to the outsider.

But to residents of the quiet community they represent a clear division over plans for a major coal-fired power plant on their doorstep.

Local communities in the South are clearly divided over plans by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) to locate coal-fired power projects in Thepa district and Krabi's Nuea Khlong district.

Members of community say they have deeds to land earmarked for promenade as opponents to plane threaten court action.

WITH LESS than one month until deadline, model schemes for the first 12 kilometres of the Chao Phraya for All riverside promenade project have yet to be finalised due to a land-rights identification problem at Wat Dhevaraj Kunchon Community, the study team said yesterday.

ENVIRONMENTAL groups have strongly opposed a plan by the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry to seek invocation of special powers under Article 44 of the post-coup interim charter to commence construction of the controversial Mae Wong dam in Nakhon Sawan province.

In a statement released by the 19 organisations yesterday, they said Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya wanted to implement a project that was against the government's reforestation campaign.